Ranking the Fallout 4 Perks in a Tier List

Summary

Twonky ranks the 70 perks in Fallout 4’s SPECIAL chart based on thousands of hours of personal experience. The rankings are subjective; companion perks and DLC perks are excluded.

Tier list

• S tier: Armorer, Lone Wanderer, Chemist, Blitz, Idiot Savant, Grim Reaper Sprint
• A tier: Big Leagues, Rifleman, Demolition Expert, Penetrator, Concentrated Fire, Local Leader, Science, Robotics Expert, Gunslinger, Commando, Sneak, Action Boy/Girl, Ninja, Better Criticals, Critical Banker
• B tier: Blacksmith, Heavy Gunner, Strong Back, Rooted, Locksmith, Solar Powered, Cap Collector, Attack Dog, Party Boy, Inspirational, Medic, Gun Nut, Scrapper, Nuclear Physicist, Nerd Rage, Quick Hands, Scrounger
• C tier: Iron Fist, Basher, Sniper, Life Giver, Aqua Boy, Adamantium Skeleton, Pain Train, Hacker, Mr. Sandman, Moving Target, Gun Fu, Bloody Mess, Four Leaf Clover
• D tier: Pickpocket, Awareness, Steady Aim, Night Person, Refractor, Toughness, Chem Resistant, Ghoulish, Lady Killer/Black Widow, Animal Friend, Wasteland Whisperer, Intimidation, Fortune Finder, Mysterious Stranger, Ricochet
• F tier: Lead Belly, Rad Resistant, Cannibal, V.A.N.S.

Highlights and tips

• Armorer is Twonky’s pick for the best perk overall. Armor upgrades benefit almost any build, from adding useful armor mods to improving power armor.
• Lone Wanderer is exceptionally strong for players who go without companions, offering damage reduction, extra carry capacity, damage boosts, and more AP.
• Blitz makes melee combat especially powerful by extending VATS melee reach and adding damage. Big Leagues is another strong melee perk, particularly at higher ranks.
• For VATS builds, Twonky highlights Concentrated Fire, Penetrator, Critical Banker, and Grim Reaper Sprint. Penetrator can target enemies through cover, while Grim Reaper Sprint can restore AP and grant a critical after a kill.
• Chemist earns an S ranking for unlocking powerful chems, extending their duration, and enabling useful Survival-mode crafting. Idiot Savant is also rated S for its experience gains, especially for players pursuing rapid leveling.
• Strong Back is particularly useful in Survival mode, where carry weight is more restrictive. Its higher ranks can also support builds that run while over-encumbered.
• Local Leader is a strong choice for settlement-focused play: it enables supply lines and, at a higher rank, lets players build crafting stations.
• Twonky argues that Lead Belly is not worth taking even in Survival mode. Cooked meat, other non-irradiated food, and clean water are available, making the perk’s protection unnecessary.
• Several perks are ranked low because their benefits feel too situational or limited. Twonky places Animal Friend, Wasteland Whisperer, and Intimidation in D, saying their effects are too unreliable to depend on.

Twonky’s overall best-perk choice is Armorer, with Lone Wanderer as a close contender. The lowest-ranked pick is Lead Belly.

Featured gamer/source: Twonky, of SuperTwonky. Viewer comments and Reddit/forum claims are also referenced in the discussion.